THE ADVANTAGES OF A SUMMER INTERNSHIP IN NYC

by Jake Sheinman

As if your parents, teachers, and advisors haven’t stressed it enough, having a summer internship is the best thing you can do to jumpstart your young career. No matter what your major is or what school you go to, having an internship during the summer will expose you to a real life work environment and teach you lessons you cannot learn in a 300 person lecture hall. Having an internship is similar to feeling like a freshman again and figuring everything out on your own, but you wouldn’t have gotten it if the company didn’t believe in you. So put your creative millennial mind to use and become an asset wherever you end up. We’ve also made a partnership with Internbeds to help our community find the best rental houses!

Here are 5 advantages of doing a summer internship in NYC

1) Getting around is so easy:

New York City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world and can seem extremely overwhelming trying to get around it for the first time. Thanks to the intricate subway system your commute will be a piece of cake. Of course during your first few weeks you might get on going the wrong way or get off at the wrong stop but hey, if you don’t fail your not even trying. And thanks to the brand new 2nd ave subway line, getting from the Upper East Side to your office is now faster, cleaner, and quieter.

2) Networking events:

Networking. This word gets used way too much but it really is something crucial that all interns should be doing. New York City is by far the easiest place to do it. Whether your out getting coffee and run into someone your age or meet a neighbor in your building; there are always opportunities to meet students like yourself and start building relationships with them. You never know what they can lead to. Larger companies also host more structured networking events to help their interns meet each other and higher ups at the company. If you are invited to one of these take advantage of it and make sure you got your 30-second elevator pitched nailed down!

3) Lunch:

Even if you never have time to meet up with friends after work, getting lunch with them is one of the best things about interning in NYC. At least it was for me last summer. It’s really nice to get out of the office and see some familiar faces. Now the city is overwhelmed with small and quick chain restaurants and to be honest they are all amazing. I am sure by the end of the summer you will have your favorite lunch spots. Here are some of mine:

Xi’an Famous Foods (homemade authentic Chinese noodle dishes)

Mighty Quinn’s BBQ (the best pulled pork in the city)

Uma Temakeria (sushi burritos are worth the hype)

Num Pang Sandwich Shop (Asian inspired sandwiches)

Chipotle (Did you really think this wouldn’t be on the list, c’mon now)

Europa Café (great salad bar, easy to do with friends)

4) Opportunities to Learn:

This seems pretty obvious as an internship is meant to be a learning experience but it is what you make of it. Be the first one in your office every day and prove to your boss that they made the right decision by taking you under their wing for the summer. An internship will expose you to many things that seem out of the ordinary but try to adjust as quickly as possible to give yourself the best opportunity to grow. One thing I learned early on at my internship last summer was to never say no but also ask a lot of questions. By this I mean that when you are asked to do something, ensure your employer that you will get it done but do not be afraid to ask questions on how to do it. Figuring things out on your own shows strong independence skills and many employers are looking for this when making hiring decisions. Lastly, just be you in the office and make relationships with as many people as possible. You will notice that your tasks become more important and carry more value as the summer goes on.

5) Get out on the weekends:

Now that I am abroad, I can appreciate making the most of every weekend. Even if it’s just for a day, why not go out and do or see things you never have before. After all the weekend is your time to relax and take time for yourself. Luckily for students interning in NYC over the summer, there are plenty of places to get out to on the weekend. Of course this isn’t abroad and you won’t likely be flying to another country for 2 days but NYC is surrounded by beautiful beaches and filled with places for summer activities. Here’s a few ideas:

Beaches:

Hamptons

Jones Beach

Atlantic City

Long Branch

Wildwood

Entertainment:

Yankee Stadium

Citi Field

Outdoor Concerts

Central Park Movie Nights

Others:

Walk the high line

Take a boat cruise around the city

Central Park Zoo

Smorgasburg

Food Festivals

Regardless of what you decide to do this summer, be sure to make the most
of it. An internship is a really special opportunity for students to prove
their value in the workforce and hopefully get a return offer. You were
recruited and given the position for a reason so go out there and do what
you do best.

If you are still looking for an apartment for your internship,
SAA
has just launched a super exciting sub-brand InternBeds. There are tons of
accommodation options all over NYC. They can help you find your beautiful
summer home in the heart of NYC.